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How Long Does It Take to Heal Me?

Stages of Chiropractic Care at the Melbourne Chiropractic and Bedding Clinic

It is important to understand the stages of chiropractic care because they are unique relative to those of other health-care disciplines. Because chiropractic care addresses your core physiological and bio mechanical aspects of the body, the process to correct problems without drugs or surgery can take some time. Some conditions may respond in a few visits, while others may take longer.

The following is a brief summary of the three major phases of chiropractic care.

Phase 1: Intensive Relief Care

Phase 2: Corrective Care

Phase 3: Wellness Care

Phase 1: Intensive Relief Care

Many people initially go to a chiropractor because they are in pain. In this first phase of care, the main goal is to reduce your symptoms. Sometimes this will require two to three visits per week for a time.

Most people are under the assumption that if they don’t feel any pain that there is nothing wrong with them – that they are healthy. Unfortunately, pain is a very poor indicator of health. In fact, pain and other symptoms frequently only appear after a disease or other condition has become advanced.

For example, consider a cavity in your tooth. Does it hurt when it first develops or only after it has become serious? How about heart disease? Regardless of whether you are talking about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stress or problems with the spine, pain is usually the last thing to appear. When you begin chiropractic care, pain is often the first symptom to disappear, even though much of the underlying condition remains.

Phase 2: Corrective Care

Most chiropractors regard the elimination of symptoms as the easiest part of a person's care. If all that the chiropractor does is to reduce the pain and stop there, the chances of the condition recurring are much greater. In order to prevent a rapid recurrence of symptoms, it is necessary to continue receiving care even though your symptoms are gone.

During the correction / restorative phase of your care, you will not have to receive adjustments as often as you did during the first phase of care and, depending on your particular circumstances, you may begin doing exercises and stretches at home to help accelerate your healing.

Do not be discouraged if you have mild flare-ups in your symptoms on occasion. This is normal. Flare-ups are bound to occur during this phase because your body has not fully healed. Depending on the severity of your injury or condition and how long you have been suffering from it, this phase of your care may last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years.

Phase 3: Wellness Care

Once your body is at its optimum, routine chiropractic care can help ensure that your physical problems do not return. Just like continuing an exercise program and eating well in order to sustain the benefits of exercise and proper diet, continued chiropractic care benefits your spine, nervous system and general well-being.

When you make routine chiropractic care a part of your lifestyle, you avoid many of the aches and pains that so many people suffer, your joints will last longer and you will be able to engage in more of the activities you love.